PILOT KILLED

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1933, Page 6

PILOT KILLED

PLANE CRASH AT HAMILTON.

EXTENSIVE INJURIES RECEIVED

(Per Press Association — Copyright. J

HAMILTON, April 3. > Nose diving from a height of 150 feet, a Blackburn Bluebird dual-con-trol biplane, owned by the Waikato Aviation Coy., crashed at Terapa yesterday morning, a- pupil pilot, Raymond Eric Land, aged 19, sustaining fatal injuries. Suffering front a fractured leg, severe labrasidns and shock. Land, who is the son of Mr E. G. Land, was rushed to the Waikato Hospital where his condition yesterday afternoon was reported favourable. The news of his death at about 5 r.in. cianrie as a great shock to all, as it was believed that lie had experienced a miraculous escape. Loud was turning towards the aerodrome preparatory to landing, but had developed insufficient flying speed, and the plane dropped, falling into"a nose divC.

It was a fine day with a light wind. The scene of the accident is a deep gully opposite the aerodrome. After the crash the aeroplane Was projecting perpendicularly out of the ground with the tail in the air. Evidence of the .great force of the impart was shown by the fact that only the top of the propeller war, visible, the remainder, , together with part of the engine, being buried deep in the soft earth of the gully. As the Plane crashed into the swampy surface the latter acted as a buffer, and considerably minimised the pressure. It was thought that this, coupled with the fact that the machine did’ not catch fire were, reasons why Land war, not killed instantaneously. Tim petrol tank was installed at the junction of the upper set of wings, and, after the impact, the tank was thrown forward away from the engine, which was almost completely submerged in the ground when the crash came. Land’s kgs were pinned under the rudder bar While has head must have been jerked violently forward on to. the instrument board.

It is stated that he was conscious throughout.’ Dr. G. W. Gower was in the neighbourhood anfi was able to attend to him a few minutes after the crash.

‘,An examination {showed that deceased was suffering from severe facial injuries, including * a broken nose, fractured leg, crushed chest, and shock. He rallied during the afternoon hut collapsed and died about 5 o’clock.

Young land was a prefect at the Hamilton Technical School aud it member of the first fifteen in 1931, Vheu lie left school having' secured his matriculation arid engineering preliminary. At the tiine rf tlie accident lie was undergoing flying tests with the object of securing his “M” certificate, and obtaining a post' with the Royal Air Force in England. He had done two and a half hours’ solo flying.